Wednesday, 26 April 2006

Microsoft is going to spread it's 'virus'!

Beware, Microsoft is going to disturb your monitor screen if you are using the pirate copy of Windows!

Where are you going to put your face, if while you are working with a customer on a desktop computer, suddenly there is a pop-up message says “This copy of Windows is not genuine ...”.

Not only that, more others random messages will be shown on the screen, and it is permenant as long as you are using the illegal copy. It is like your Windows is being infected by virus.. he he he..but now the virus came from Microsoft. The 'virus' will find it's victims from TOMORROW in the United States, Britain, New Zealand, Australia and Malaysia.

Actually, this is a move by Microsoft to minimize illegal copy of their software. 61% of software used in local private businesses is illegal, reported anti-piracy watchdog Business Software Alliance BSA.

In my opinion, if you are using the illegal copy of Ms Windows and do not want the 'virus' to spread into your desktop PC, just do not update it. If you have already done so, then it is time to reformat your hard disk..(and buy the original product.)

PETALING JAYA: Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of local PC users running pirated Windows operating systems will soon face the shame of being reminded of their illegal action every time they switch on their machines.

The feature will be added to the operating system by Microsoft Corp from tomorrow and cannot be erased. It will nag the guilty users and can be awkward if it shows up on corporate PCs.

There are about six million Windows PC users in the country, according to industry estimates, while anti-piracy watchdog Business Software Alliance has reported that 61% of all software used in local private businesses is illegal.

Current users of PCs running pirated Windows will find their machines “tattooed” the next time they update the operating system.

Basically, a message stating “This copy of Windows is not genuine ...” will be permanently affixed to the operating system’s login screen, and a similar message will randomly pop up on the desktop whenever the machine is in use.

The anti-piracy move is being kicked off in five countries tomorrow – the United States, Britain, New Zealand, Australia and Malaysia.

Users whose machines have been affected will only be able to get rid of the tattoo if they install a genuine copy of Windows. Prices range from RM320 for a copy of Windows XP Home (OEM version) to RM510 for Windows XP Pro (OEM version).

“Or they can put up with being ‘nagged’ by the pop-up message every time they use their computers,” said K.T. Ng, group manager for Windows Client solutions at Microsoft Malaysia.

If they were businessmen or corporate executives, it would be embarrassing if their clients saw the tattoo indicating that a pirated copy of Windows was being used, he said.

PIRATED software users be warned. Microsoft Corp is going to start “nagging” Windows users who do not have a legitimate copy of its operating system (OS).

Starting tomorrow, the software giant will permanently flag personal computers that are not running a genuine copy of Windows.

This move affects the six million Windows users in this country, as well as those in the United States, Britain, New Zealand and Australia.

Industry sources informed In.Tech that the software giant is giving Windows the ability to tell if a user's PC is running a genuine or pirated version of the OS, via an update patch that becomes available from tomorrow.

The patch takes effect if a PC user has opted to automatically update Windows the moment he goes online. It will also take effect should a PC user manually download the latest Windows updates.

If the OS is an unauthorised copy, a pop-up dialogue box will appear on the Windows login screen, informing the user that his copy of the OS is counterfeit and that he should get a genuine copy.